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Breathing air containing high levels of radon can cause lung cancer. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year in the United States. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

Radon is an odorless, tasteless and invisible gas produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water.

Radon is an environmental health hazard at home. Radon gas typically enters your home through the basement, from cracks in your home’s foundation, dirt floors, floor drains, and pores in block walls. Other sources of radon in the home may include the radon gas in water supply and building materials.

Testing is the best way to know how much Radon is in your home. EPA recommends the following testing steps:

Step 1: Take a short-term test. If your result is 4 pCi/L or higher, take a follow-up test (Step 2) to be sure.

Step 2: Follow up with either a long-term test or a second short-term test:

For a better understanding of your year-round average radon level, take a long-term test.

If you need results quickly, take a second short-term test.

Step 3: If you followed up with a long-term test: Fix your home if your long-term test result is 4 pCi/L or more. If you followed up with a second short-term test: The higher your short-term results, the more certain you can be that you should fix your home. Consider fixing your home if the average of your first and second test is 4 pCi/L or higher.

If the radon level in your home is above 4 pCi/L, you should get your home mitigated. Mitigation is the technique used to remove the radon in your home. You should you use a registered mitigator to ensure accurate work. Read more about mitigation at http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.cfm?number=C1065